Looking device for whip sockets



(No Model.) l

- r A'. H. LAU.- W

LOCKING DEVIGB FOR WHIP SOOK'B-TS. v

N0. Z90,0'73 Patented Dec. 11, 1883.

WITNESSEE INVENTEI'FL.

N PETERS. Prwlo-utmnpiw. Wuhinikm D. c

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HENRY LAU, OF' SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM IRELAN, JR, AND MARGARET B. LAU, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

LocKmc DEVICE FOR WHIP-SOCKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 290,073, dated December 11, 1883.

Application filed May 18, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT H.'LAU, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented an Improved Locking Device for Whip-Sockets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved looking device adapted to be used in connection with the ordinary whip-socket for the purpose of looking or securing the whip-stalk within the socket or pocket, and to prevent the withdrawal or removal of the whip until the lock has been opened by a suitable key; and it consists in the construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings which are hereunto annexed and which form part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved locking device, showing the same in position. Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing the lock-plate removed and'the lock opened. Fig. 3 is the same, showing the lock closed. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of the lock. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the spring hingejoint of the locking-hasp. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the key. v

Similar letters of reference are used to indicate like parts throughout the several views.

A represents the ordinary whip-socket, secured upon the standard B in the usual manner.

The locking mechanism consists of a lockcarrying frame, 0, secured upon the standard B a short distance above the top of the whipsocket by means of the clip D and screws E, and is provided with a spring-hasp, F, pivoted by a pin, G, to the main frame 0. The opposite end of the hasp is formed with a shoulder, H, which may abut against the edge or side of the lock-plate. That portion of the hasp which passes within the lock-plate I designate by the letter F, and, if deemed preferable, this portion may be hinged to the main hasp, as shown in Fig. 2; yet I prefer to employ the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which both portions are cast solid and in one piece. This continuation or shank of the hasp is curved, so as to form a true are, of which the hasp-pin G is'the center, and it fits snugly within the passage-way I,formed within the lock frame, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) and it is provided with a stud or lug, which prevents the hasp from being completely with- 5 5 drawn from the locking-frame.

Those portions of the locking-frame and of the hasp which come in immediate contact with the whip-stalk are curved, as shown, so as to form aring which binds equally upon all sides 6 of the whip-stalk when the lock is closed. The periphery of the hasp-shank F is provided with a series of notches or ratchet-teeth, J, which are engaged-by the pawl K, contained within the lock-frame, and operated by a shoul- 6 5 dered pin, L, which is kept in continual contact with the pawl by means of aspring, M, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and in detail in Fig. 4. This pawl is composed of two or more plates of 7 metal mounted upon the same pivot or pin, a, but having their points of equal depth, while their heels are of unequal depth and come opposite the keyway N and in position to be operated upon by the key 0, the notches of which correspond in depth to the difference in depth 7 between the various plates composing the pawl. The operation of my improved whip-lock will be as follows, to wit: WVhen the driver of the vehicle to which the lock is attached wishes to secure his whip, he passes it down butt first 8o until it tightly binds the whip-stalk against the main frame 0. The spring-pawl by engaging with the ratchet-teeth on the hasp-shank prevents the withdrawal of thehasp from the lockplate or removal of the whip, as it will be impossible to draw the enlarged grip or butt 0 through the small locked space, the size of which is regulated by the diameter of the whip-stalk.

Should the driver now wish to remove his whip from its socket, he inserts his key into the 5 lock, and, by pushing forward, the points of the several plates composing the pawl K are one after another released from contact with the ratchet-teeth up on the shank of the spring-hasp F, which then flies back sufficiently far to form Having thusdeseribed my invention, WhatI ed, arranged, and operating substantially as c1ai1n,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, shown, and for the purpose set forth. 10 is- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I A locking device for Whip-sockets, consisthave hereunto set my hand and seal. 5 ing of a lock-frame, 0, attached to the whip ALBERT HENRY LAU. [L. 8.]

socket standard, and provided with a spring- Witnesses: hasp, F, having ratchet-teeth J, in combina- G. XV. M. SMITH, tion with the spring locking-pawl K, construct l CHAS. E. KELLY. 

